By the late 1800s Leland was home to a small fleet of fishing vessels. These early fishermen set their nets offshore in open wood mackinaw boats rigged with sails. By 1905 the fishermen began to replace the sails in their mackinaw boats with gas-powered engines. The new engines and the addition of protective cabins enabled the fishermen to fish farther from port, in more inclement weather, and for more of the year.
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Diesel eventually replaced gas and new machinery was added to newly built tugs that made the fishermen increasingly efficient at catching fish, but wood tugs still reigned in Fishtown until the late 1950s. In 1958 the Steffens and Stallman families dedicated two new fish tugs in Leland. With these boats, the Janice Sue and the Mary Ann, commercial fishing in Leland left the world of wood boats and entered the world of steel, with hulls specially designed for the rigors of this part of the Great Lakes. Janice Sue has served in Leland ever since. Trap net fishing began in Leland in 1982, with the launch of the hand-crafted steel tug, the Joy.
Fishtown has a timeless presence that leaves its mark on people of all walks of life, and it’s amazing just how much of an impact a small place can have on a person. In the words that Matt Heiman used to describe the Leland River “a very small area becomes very important.” As a local, […]
The first thing I think of when I hear the word Fishtown is fish (duh), but more specifically, the SMELL of fish. Love it or hate it, it’s impossible to deny that this distinct aroma characterizes the town. If you have a keen sense of smell, you may be able to pinpoint where the scent […]
If you drive 15 minutes east of Leland on M-204, you’ll find yourself in another charming little village. Sitting along West Grand Traverse Bay, Suttons Bay is a water focused town, much like Leland. Last week I took a break from my routine of exploring out of Fishtown and paid a visit to Suttons Bay […]
Stepping into the office last Monday morning, I could feel the nervous energy bubbling around me. The Friends of Fishtown 5K was upon us, meaning the entire week was to be filled with preparation. My only experience with 5Ks are the ones I ran (walked) during my years participating with Girls on the Run in […]
